What happened
BA471, Sat 31 Oct.
British Airways flight BA471 from Palma De Mallorca Airport to London Heathrow Airport on Saturday, 31 October 2026 landed at 18:16 instead of 13:45, a delay of 4h 31m. That's 1h 31m past the 3-hour compensation threshold.
Delay
4h 31m
Your rights
Are passengers owed compensation?
Yes, most likely. BA471 departed an EU airport, so it's covered by EU261 whichever airline operated it. The only exception is if British Airways can prove the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances outside its control.
1 passenger
€250
You keep €237.50
2 passengers
€500
You keep €475
3 passengers
€750
You keep €712.50
4 passengers
€1,000
You keep €950
Know the tricks
What British Airways might say.
Airlines can refuse compensation for "extraordinary circumstances". Some reasons genuinely count, and many that airlines use don't:
Usually still owed
- Technical faults with the aircraft
- Crew shortages or sickness
- The airline's own staff striking
- Knock-on delays from an earlier flight
Can be a valid excuse
- Severe weather
- Air traffic control restrictions or strikes
- Security alerts or airport closures
- Bird strikes, if handled properly
The airline has to prove the cause. We check the reason British Airways gives and challenge refusals that don't hold up.
Three steps
How to claim for BA471.
- 1
Check your flight
Enter BA471 and Saturday, 31 October 2026. We verify the delay against flight data.
- 2
Add your passengers
Everyone on the booking can claim, including children. Your booking reference is enough to start.
- 3
We deal with the airline
We send the claim to British Airways, chase it and challenge any unfair refusal. The airline pays you directly.
Questions? Answers.
Can I claim compensation for BA471 on Saturday, 31 October 2026?+
Very likely, yes. BA471 from Palma De Mallorca to London was delayed by 4h 31m, which is the kind of disruption EU261 pays compensation for, unless British Airways can prove it was caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or an air traffic control restriction.
How much compensation is BA471 worth?+
€250 per passenger under EU261, based on a flight distance of about 1,348km. Every passenger on the booking can claim, including children, so a family of four could be owed €1,000.
What if British Airways says it was extraordinary circumstances?+
Airlines often say this, but technical faults, staff shortages, crew sickness, the airline's own staff striking and knock-on delays from earlier flights do not count. The airline has to prove the cause. We check the reason given and challenge refusals that don't hold up.
How long do I have to claim?+
Up to 6 years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 5 years in Scotland. There's no need to rush, but claims are easier while your booking details and messages from the airline are to hand.
Do I need my boarding pass to start?+
No. Your booking reference and the names of the passengers are enough to start. If anything else is needed later, such as a boarding pass or ID, we'll ask.